Tufted duck The days grow longer and tomorrow is the first day of spring. Birds are resplendent in breeding plumage. Males show in bold, bright colour with females less colourful but with intricate plumage pattern. When courting birds swim together and roost close to each other that's an opportunity to identify females.
There are rafts of tufted ducks, predominantly males with black and white plumage and a panache, a long crest of dark feathers present in the breeding season. The female has a blue bill and a hint of a crest, her plumage is dark brown.
There are rafts of tufted ducks, predominantly males with black and white plumage and a panache, a long crest of dark feathers present in the breeding season. The female has a blue bill and a hint of a crest, her plumage is dark brown.
Tomorrow is the first day of spring. Meteorological spring always falls on 1st March but Astronomical spring will be on 20th March this year. Snowdrops and hazel catkins are early signs of spring. I look in vain for willow catkins.
Strolling the Leighton Moss reserve, we look to identify trees as well as birds. Leighton Moss is wetland and reed bed so there is willow and alder carr, both species found on river bank and in wet ground. It's a morning of bright sun and cloud so at times colour drains from the woodland fringe and alder are thick and dark with catkins. Hazel catkins are first to flower and most showy. Birch have small catkins on delicate twigs and they will show green when they open.
Strolling the Leighton Moss reserve, we look to identify trees as well as birds. Leighton Moss is wetland and reed bed so there is willow and alder carr, both species found on river bank and in wet ground. It's a morning of bright sun and cloud so at times colour drains from the woodland fringe and alder are thick and dark with catkins. Hazel catkins are first to flower and most showy. Birch have small catkins on delicate twigs and they will show green when they open.
In the early morning there's a bright blue sky and light dazzles on the pools. Bright light isn't always best for photography and with some images I've had to identify birds in the edit, zooming-in close and returning to a Collins bird guide over and over to check visible features. A small white speculum confirms gadwall, the male showing only in silhouette and a confusing posture- his female is more obliging.
I like my image of a great-crested grebe taking flight to show the white underwing and feet paddling the water. Snipe are roosting on an islet of reed-stubble, hunkered down amongst teal and wigeon, the pale stripes patterning their heads visible. We watch otter sinuous and dark as they break the surface of the water and we hear they're munching something on the edge of the reed bed but you need a telescope to see that.
I like my image of a great-crested grebe taking flight to show the white underwing and feet paddling the water. Snipe are roosting on an islet of reed-stubble, hunkered down amongst teal and wigeon, the pale stripes patterning their heads visible. We watch otter sinuous and dark as they break the surface of the water and we hear they're munching something on the edge of the reed bed but you need a telescope to see that.
A common gull sits on a post, its yellow-green legs and broad white band on the tail visible. Black headed gull are numerous and vocal.
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